Alabama man who used to hate Teslas and EVs explains why he changed his mind and now owns a 2025 Tesla Model 3

For years, this Alabama man couldn’t understand why anyone would want to drive a Tesla, because he hates all EVs.

He missed the noise, gears and feeling of a traditional performance car, and wasn’t impressed by the styling of older Model 3s either.

But after his beloved Lexus started costing him thousands of dollars to keep on the road, he finally gave an EV a proper chance.

Now, after buying a brand-new 2025 Tesla Model 3, he says he would absolutely buy one again.

He used to hate Teslas before he ever drove one

The Alabama-based YouTuber, Mario, who goes by Mone online, admitted that he had already made up his mind about Tesla and EVs in general before ever getting behind the wheel of one.

His biggest complaint was the lack of engine noise.

He wanted the sound, gears and aggression that came with traditional performance cars, and said he had always wanted something like a BMW M3 or Dodge Hellcat.

He also wasn’t a fan of the older Tesla Model 3 design, comparing its shape to a whale.

At the time, he was driving a 2008 Lexus LS 460, which he thought he would keep forever.

But the aging luxury sedan began developing problems, and Mario said he was spending thousands of dollars just to keep it running.

Then a friend lent him a Tesla for an entire week.

That experience didn’t immediately turn him into an EV fan, but it finally helped him understand the appeal.

He enjoyed the instant acceleration, the convenience of charging at home and all the technology packed into the car.

Still, it was the newer Model 3 that really changed his mind.

Mario eventually bought a brand-new 2025 Model 3 Premium, which he said looked much sportier than the older versions he had disliked.

The interior also impressed him, particularly the ambient lighting and technology.

Now he says he would buy another Tesla

Once he started living with the Model 3, Mario discovered just how convenient an EV, particularly a Tesla, could be as a daily driver.

One of his favorite features is being able to use his phone as the car’s key, while the Tesla app lets him remotely control parts of the vehicle.

He also uses Tesla’s Full Self-Driving feature and described an occasion when it drove him home and pulled into his garage after he was too tired to drive himself.

The ability to monitor the car remotely was another feature he liked, with Tesla’s cameras allowing him to check what was happening around the vehicle.

But the biggest change for him was charging.

Instead of stopping at a gas station, he can plug the Tesla in at home and wake up with a full battery.

He admits there are downsides, though.

His Model 3 picked up plenty of rock chips on the front bumper, while he wasn’t impressed with the original wheels. He has also experienced noisy seats and windshield wipers that occasionally activate when there isn’t any rain.

Service has been another issue, as he previously had to travel from Huntsville to Nashville for Tesla servicing.

Long-distance trips can also require extra planning.

He said a five-hour trip from Huntsville to Mobile typically required two charging stops, which can add 10 to 30 minutes or more to a journey.

Despite all that, Mario says he would buy the Tesla again.

He still wants a BMW M3, however, because he admits that even after becoming an EV convert, he still misses the sound and feel of a traditional performance car.